Trying to be Monogamous

No, I'm not talking about my marriage. Wait -- that doesn't sound right. Of course, my marriage is monogamous! I have an awesome husband who never comments when I buy yarn; although, he does like to tease me about my stash.

Knitting and reading, though, are harder for me to be monogamous with. But in an effort to simplify my life, I'm forcing myself to pick up hibernating projects. This week I pulled out my Reyna.
I love this shawl and the yarn includes my favorite colors. However, I am struggling with the netting section I'm working on. The netting keeps changing direction, so matter how careful I am with following the pattern. Sometimes the simple patterns are the hardest! At least for me.

And I'm still reading Spectacle by Pamela Newkirk, about an African man who was "taken" from his homeland and displayed at the Bronx Zoo in 1906. I think books like these are important in understanding how race is and was perceived in the United States.

I'm joining up with Ginny to Yarn Along.

Passover Weekend

The hosta are finally peaking out, just in time for Passover.

I pulled out my Mixmaster to make this amazing chocolate cake that no one can believe is really a Passover dessert; Passover desserts are famous for being just plain awful.

I do not know how anyone can bake without a standing mixer. My mom always had one, and I was shocked to find out that there are people who bake without one. I've tried hand-mixers, and they just don't measure up. It is so convenient to let it run while you measure out the next ingredient, and they do such a good job of mixing. Do you have one?

I went to two Seders this year and enjoyed them both. One was very casual, while the other was more traditional. A nice contrast. The guest of honor, of course, was this little sweetie.

Baby M is the only grandchild among my group of peers, so she has about a dozen honorary grandparents.

There was a little bit of knitting on my Reyna.

 Saturday was World Wide Sketch Crawl, and my group went to Madison's famed Farmers' Market that takes place on the square around the Capitol. It is crazy crowded, but very festive.

Sunday was for puttering around the house and doing work. Monday came too soon!

I'm joining up with Nicole to Keep Calm Craft On.

One Done And One Begun

We are into the fourth quarter at school. That may sound like the end is in sight. Not yet! I have a growing pile of paperwork. If paperwork was a good strategy for teaching, my students would be geniuses! Alas, that is not the way it is working out.

But there is always knitting to get my mind off work. My Antarktis shawl is ready for blocking. It doesn't look like much yet, but I'm sure it will be wonderful after blocking. It is a really fast and easy knit. I tend to drag my feet on blocking -- am I alone? This photo does not do justice to the Eden Cottage yarn.

I immediately cast on Reyna, another shawl:

It is a free pattern, quite easy and fast. And isn't the yarn gorgeous? It is Mountain Colors Twizzle.

I bought the yarn for both these shawls at the Madison Knitters Guild Knit-In in March, and I'm glad I gave way to temptation. Both are fairly difficult to get, even online!

I'm still reading Jacksonland by Steve Inskeep, and it is turning upside down the history I learned in high school. I was taught that Jackson was a president for the common people. Not! He was quite an elitist. Even more, I'm struck by how some things never change. At the same time he was negotiating with Native Americans for their land as a government official, he was buying up that same land while it was cheap. Sigh.

I'm joining up with Ginny for Yarn Along. See you there!